{"id":555,"date":"2012-05-03T07:58:28","date_gmt":"2012-05-03T07:58:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/?p=555"},"modified":"2012-05-31T15:06:10","modified_gmt":"2012-05-31T15:06:10","slug":"boutte-headlines-21st-jazz-fest-shabbat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/boutte-headlines-21st-jazz-fest-shabbat\/","title":{"rendered":"Boutt\u00e9 headlines 21st Jazz Fest Shabbat"},"content":{"rendered":"

John Boutt\u00e9<\/strong>, a featured performer on the HBO series \u201cTreme<\/strong>,\u201d headlined the 24th<\/sup> annual Jazz Fest Shabbat<\/strong> held at Touro Synagogue <\/strong>on Friday, April 27. \"\"

Attendees at the historic St. Charles Avenue sanctuary filled most every seat, enjoying a memorable night of prayer and revelry that marked the first weekend of the 2012 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.<\/p>\n

Cantor Jaime Marks<\/strong> performed with the Panorama Jazz Band<\/strong> and the Touro Synagogue Choir<\/strong> in a traditional Shabbat evening service flavored with musical and vocal arrangements provided by the likes of Jewish musical giants Kurt Weill<\/strong> and Craig Taubman<\/strong>. Music Director Terry Maddox<\/strong> worked in tandem with Marks in leading the choir and directing the musicians, while Rabbi Alexis Berk<\/strong> provided commentary and ushered attendees from the more spiritual portions of the evening to the more secular program provided by Boutt\u00e9, his backing band and the choir on the bimah<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Boutt\u00e9 kicked off his participation in\u00a0 the program with the traditional gospel hymn \u201cWade in the Water\u201d paired with the Hebrew hymn \u201cMi Chamochah\u201d sung by the choir. His performance of Leonard Cohen\u2019s<\/strong> \u201cHallelujah\u201d received a standing ovation. Boutt\u00e9\u2019s final number was the theme song from \u201cTreme\u201d that he has helped to popularize.<\/p>\n

Boutt\u00e9 was presented by event chair David Hammer<\/strong> with a decorated white tailcoat bearing colorful adornments including the name \u201cTreme\u201d emblazoned on its back. He eagerly donned it to the delight of the crowd.<\/p>\n

The final selection was a jazzy version of \u201cAdon Olom\u201d that inspired the sporting of second line umbrellas and dancing in the aisles by attendees.<\/p>\n

The Jazz Fest Shabbat was conceived in 1992 by the late Cantor Stephen Dubov<\/strong> and has been a wildly successful event every year since. Through the past two deacades it has spotlighted some of the most famous New Orleans musicians and singers including Irma Thomas<\/strong>, Allen Toussaint<\/strong>, Kermit Ruffins<\/strong>, Theresa<\/strong> Andersson<\/strong> and Louisiana-born pianist Marcia Ball<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Prior to the public event several hundred Jazz Fest Shabbat patrons were treated to a private concert by Boutt\u00e9 and his band before enjoying a buffet meal in the social hall. Patrons defray the huge costs associated with the event.<\/p>\n

Members of the Sophie Wright School Marching Band<\/strong> entertained attendees early in the evening as they arrived. Sophie Wright Charter School<\/strong> has an ongoing relationship with Touro Synagogue for financial and social activism support.<\/p>\n

A large Oneg Shabbat sponsored by the Touro Synagoue Choir<\/strong> was held following the services in the Golden Pavilion<\/strong> and Jacobs Social Hall<\/strong> with Panorama Jazz Band<\/strong> providing musical accompaniment.<\/p>\n

\"Share